Alvin H. Danenberg, DDS • Nutritional Periodontist
August 29, 2016
It disturbs me when I see what I perceive to be injustices. I wrote about this before. Sometimes (not often) these injustices could involve life or death situations.
A Life or Death Example
An EpiPen® is a medical device that allows a person who is having a severe allergic reaction to administer epinephrine from this device instantly into their leg muscle. In just seconds, the epinephrine could save a life from a severe allergic reaction.
When I saw the news that Mylan, a pharmaceutical company, raised the price for its two-pack of EpiPens from $94 in 2007 to $608 today, I was appalled. People who depend on them also have to replace them every year because the effectiveness of the medicine expires. How could a responsible company and its executives make a lifesaving device so unaffordable to many who need it?
If the increase in the cost of production was necessary to raise the price, that could explain a rise in the retail price. But, if the increase in the cost of production was only the result of normal inflation over that timeframe, then what caused the huge price jump?
- Could it be selfish executives of the company who wanted a bigger paycheck?
- Could this be an example of price gouging since the EpiPen has no competition? It is the only device of its kind.
Just a few days ago, however, the CEO capitulated and said the cost of the EpiPen would be coming down through various discounts. In my opinion, this change of plan did not come from the goodness of the CEO’s heart. It came from the political pressures that were placed on the company and the overall outrage that was generated from the general public.
Another Pet Peeve
Here is another pet peeve I have that is nowhere as life threatening or ludicrous as the Mylan fiasco. I get annoyed by medical professionals who give the impression that they are sharing useful information with their readers over the Internet when if fact it is a guise to sell their products.
Recently I received an email from a medical person whom I highly respect. It was a lengthy email explaining how eating a different way could improve specific ailments that the reader might personally experience. As I read through the email, I expected some advice as to what to eat or what not to eat to improve that ailment. Some basic information was described. However, when I got to the end of the email, there was a button to click to get more information. That click took me to a page to subscribe (for a fee) to a series of weekly recipe plans that would be emailed to me so that I could eat healthier and rid myself of that ailment. How disappointing and tricky. The original email gave me no indication that there was going to be a sales pitch when I clicked for more information. So many Paleo-type recipes are available for free on the Internet.
Do I sound too self-righteous? I don’t mean to be.
Let Me Share
Anyone and everyone can recieve my 3-page document that describes the good foods, the bad foods, and the foods to eat in moderation in order to support a healthy body. I also post my original nutrient-dense recipes on my website. These are available for free to those who are interested.
I am not against the entrepreneurial spirit, and I am not against capitalism or making money. Not at all! I am against lengthy emails that appear to be informational, and then getting to the end only to find out it is a sales pitch disguised as quality content. Unfortunately, I see this sales tactic becoming more frequent.
Here are links to my 30-Day Reset Diet and my original Paleo Recipes. Also, here is my graphic of how a typical plate of food should be proportioned. All are free. Share them for free with whomever you wish.